busking in the subway.

bronx zoo in autumn.

amish youth running.

The Village of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania

"My best teachers were mess, failure, death, mistakes, and the people I hated, including myself." ~anne lamott

to san pedro.

guess who's a lucky duck...

because it's her birthday and her stupendous husband surprised her with tickets to...

 !!!

which they'll be watching in NEW YORK!!! on BROADWAY!!!

We're in Camden, NJ for the annual UrbanPromise Summit Conference where all UP branches come together for encouragement and connecting with other UP peeps.  The keynote speaker is Benneth Lee, a former gang leader from Chicago.  It was crazy to think that the stuff he talked about really happened to him.  But by the grace of God and an incredible support system around him during his rehab and after coming out of prison for the last time, he's now a sought-out and highly respected counselor/trainer/conference speaker, specifically in the area of gang members coming out of drug addiction.

(ps. and for those of you who'd care, I shook Shane Claiborne's hand.)

So after the conference, we're going to mozy on over to the Big Apple, after the UPHonduras staff runs a little half marathon in Amish Country to raise money for kids fieldtrips.  Matt and I will be staying till Tuesday.  I thought the trip to New York was my birthday present alone, but I eventually found out the show was my real present.  This is a dream come true for me to finally see this show, having studied Theatre Design in university.  Yes, I have the best husband in the world.  And yes, this year's birthday rocks the Kasbah.

end of an era.

Matt had his final day with the AfterSchool Program last Friday.  He has passed the baton on to Katie, the  new Camp Hope Director.  He'll be wrapping up his time with UPH with a few fun fieldtrips with the kids.  It's bitter sweet, of course.  It always is, having invested so much of your life into something special, investing into people's lives.

Everyday at the end of camp, everyone participates in a cheer which is a verse from the bible.  Accompanied with actions, the kids and leaders belt out the words with joy and conviction.  It's crazy and super all together.  Here is a little video of the cheer, on the last day of Camp Hope of this year.

¡Sé fuerte y valiente! ¡No tengas miedo ni te desanimes!
Porque el SEÑOR tu Dios te acompañará dondequiera que vayas.

(Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ~Joshua 1:9).

tobacco sheds.

Formerly used for air-curring tobacco leaves, these buildings now stand dilapidated and abandoned in one of the surrounding farm areas of the Copan region.